When The Unexpected Happens...
When the unexpected happens or when tragedy strikes, it reminds us how fragile our lives are. We think that somehow it won't happen to us or anyone we love. And then a childhood hero dies in a tragic accident, a colleague is diagnosed with a terminal illness, or someone close to us moves away... and we are left feeling a massive amount of conflicting emotions, also known as grief.
When I lost my mom in a tragic accident, my life came to a screeching halt. So many things that seemed to matter all of a sudden didn't matter at all. My priorities became clear.
These tragedies often remind us to hold our loved ones close because tomorrow is not promised to any of us. They also beg the questions, "Am I living life the way I want to live it?" Or, "Is this grudge worth holding?" Or, "If this is my last conversation with this person, is this the way I want it to be?" Or even, "How do I want to be remembered? Is this the legacy I want to leave... what is my legacy?"
If you haven't answered those questions lately (or ever), I would encourage you to grab a pen and paper and sit with them.
Since my mom's death and all the work I have done on my grief and the grief of others, I realized that the legacy I want to leave is to create a culture of compassion that starts with me being kinder to myself and accepting all of my emotions as important and unique.
We are so often our own worst critic, and we take what other people say and do personally (even though it is usually not about us at all).
When we are hurting, we often feel like no one understands or has been through any such thing... but the thing that is so fascinating is that while each of our experiences are unique... feelings are universal. We have all been sad, scared, excited, overwhelmed, heart-broken, joyful, frustrated, angry, resentful, jealous, connected, proud, misunderstood...
Compassion comes from understanding that everyone has a story and that story is important and valuable. Each of us is unique and yet we share a common humanity that warms our hearts.
Since publishing The Compassion Code: How to say the right thing when the wrong thing happens, I have had the unique and amazing opportunity to speak to thousands of people both online and on stages about communicating and leading with compassion and confidence… even through the toughest situations.
After these talks and trainings, people often ask how they can implement the tools in my book in their own lives and how they can support other people in their lives more compassionately without burning out … and I thought, “Aha, so this is what I am here to do next.” I call this golden bread crumbs:)
And out of my desire to help people get out of their own way and leave their positive mark on the world, The Compassion Code Academy was born.
I am constantly inspired by the transformation our clients are experiencing, as they are:
Learning how to own their worth, understand their true value, love themselves, and speak their needs without feeling selfish, needy or ungrateful. And the coolest part is that this inner knowing creates a ripple effect of compassion and empowerment that is inspiring those around them to do the same.
Navigating complicated relationships, communications, and dynamics with confidence and compassion… so they don’t have to play back scenarios over and over again in their heads wondering how they could have handled an interaction better.
Learning how to listen, acknowledge, validate and respond with compassion during difficult conversations without over-giving or under-giving.
The truth is, life is too short to wait to make a difference (big or small). Each person has an average reach of 1000 people. So just imagine the ripple effect of you knowing how to move from:
victim ------> empowered
grief ------> gratitude
uncertainty ------> trust
self-doubt ------> self-love
judgement ------> curiosity
disconnected ------> connected
I’ve opened up some times this week to speak to some ultra-committed people who are looking for practical tools to communicate effectively and lead confidently so they can have brave conversations, create greater impact, and own their value personally and professionally.
There’s no charge for this; it’s totally free.
But it’s not for everyone. Here’s who I can help:
People who are awake to the fact that life is short and precious, who are done making excuses, who are coachable, open, and ready to get out of their own way so they can make a positive impact on the world.
If you’re ready to lead and communicate authentically, vulnerably and inspirationally even during the most stressful times without compromising yourself, click here to book your session.
BTW: These free consultations will fill up fast, so if anything in this email resonates with you, schedule your time with me to figure out if we are a good fit!!
So looking forward to connecting with you, and feel free to share with someone in your life who you think of as a conscious, mission-driven leader or coach.
Interested in learning more? Watch my webinar, Compassionate Communication 101, here.